Brussels, 14/03/2006 (Agence Europe) - On 10 March, the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) published comments on policy options proposed by the Commission in November 2005 in its communication concerning the interoperability of databases in the area of Justice and Home Affairs (EUROPE 9075). “The Commission argues that interoperability is a technical rather than a legal or political concept. This is confusing and only serves to avoid fundamental issues”, EDPS Peter Hustinx states in a press release. “Interoperable systems increase the risks for citizens, if such systems allow for new access to their personal data”, he added, considering that it boils down to the fact that “it is essential to examine this more carefully and not hide it as a technicality”. The EDPS also strongly discourages the use of biometric data, such as digital fingerprints or perhaps even DNA as a unique identification key. The EDPS considers that biometric precision is “overestimated” in this context and that it will facilitate “unwarranted interconnection of databases”. In his initial comments to the Communication, the EDPS underlines that he needs to be consulted on any legislative proposals that may stem from it. He also makes some specific observations such as welcoming the Commission's analysis that there shall be a much higher threshold for access when internal security authorities query databases in other domains than when they query criminal data bases.